Gas Line Services in Woodleaf, NC

Signs to pay attention to

• A rotten-egg smell. Both natural gas and propane carry it. Leave the house, then call. Propane is heavier than air and can collect in a basement or crawl space.
• Frost on a propane regulator or fitting when it isn't freezing outside
• Hissing at the tank, the regulator or where the line enters the house
• Yellow, unsteady flames or soot on an appliance
• A dead strip of grass along a buried line from the tank
• Running out of propane, which can let air into the lines and needs a leak check before relighting

Woodleaf is mostly propane and electric

Woodleaf is a rural, unincorporated crossroads on NC 801, about 9.5 miles northwest of Salisbury. The 2014 state Utilities Commission report says Piedmont Natural Gas serves only portions of Rowan County, and nothing confirms mains along Woodleaf's roads. ZIP-level figures for 27054 show about 66% of homes heating with electricity, about 15% with utility gas and about 12% with propane, well above the propane share in town areas. Another 4% or so use fuel oil.

So a Woodleaf gas job is often a propane job. The tank and first-stage regulator usually belong to, or are serviced by, the propane company. The piping from the second-stage regulator into the house and out to each appliance is the homeowner's, and that's where a plumber comes in.

Homes here are mostly 1980s to 2010s construction, with a median build year of 1991 and about a third built before 1980. Permits in unincorporated Rowan County go through Rowan County Building Inspections in Salisbury.

Cost factors

• Distance from the tank. Rural lots often mean a long buried run from tank to house.
• Trenching. Depth, soil and anything in the way add time.
• Appliance load. A generator or furnace may need bigger pipe than a range or dryer.
• Coordination with the supplier. Tank moves, regulator swaps and leak checks may involve the propane company.
• Permit and inspection. New piping is tested before it's put into service.

Once you're connected

An independent plumber who works in the Woodleaf area will ask whether you're on propane or natural gas, which appliance is involved and how far it is from the tank or meter. Have your propane supplier's name handy, since some steps need their involvement. If you're adding an appliance, mention its input rating from the label so the plumber can judge whether the existing pipe is big enough.